Mechanical Needling with Sterile Water versus Steroids Injection for Facet Joint Syndrome: A Retrospective Observational Study
Table 2
Outcome of treatments.
Sterile water (n = 4228)
value
Sterile water (n = 96/4228)
value
Steroids (n = 48)
value
value
VAS of back pain (Mean ± SD)
Preinjection (T0)
8.45 ± 0.99
8.31 ± 0.46
8.29 ± 1.02
0.823
Immediately after the first injection (T1)
5.56 ± 1.56
0.041
5.13 ± 1.56
0.039
4.37 ± 1.32
0.035
0.129
One week after the first injection (T2)
6.43 ± 1.91
0.312
6.57 ± 1.46
0.256
1.83 ± 1.41
0.044
0.016
1 month after the first injection (T3)
1.79 ± 1.14
0.000
1.34 ± 1.24
0.000
1.44 ± 1.32
0.042
0.058
3 months after the first injection (T4)
1.99 ± 1.25
0.000
1.47 ± 1.12
0.000
3.56 ± 2.31
0.046
0.014
6 months after the first injection (T5)
1.01 ± 1.56
0.000
1.11 ± 1.21
0.000
7.58 ± 1.92
0.783
0.000
VAS of leg pain (Mean ± SD)
Preinjection (T0)
8.12 ± 1.19
8.09 ± 1.11
8.39 ± 1.02
0.814
Immediately after the first injection (T1)
4.01 ± 1.31
0.048
4.12 ± 1.24
0.042
3.21 ± 1.89
0.012
0.136
One week after the first injection (T2)
6.45 ± 1.03
0.741
6.18 ± 1.02
0.589
1.32 ± 1.25
0.019
0.013
1 month after the first injection (T3)
1.89 ± 1.21
0.000
1.69 ± 1.09
0.000
1.17 ± 1.29
0.045
0.699
3 months after the first injection (T4)
1.57 ± 1.12
0.000
1.48 ± 1.03
0.000
4.36 ± 1.37
0.049
0.000
6 months after the first injection (T5)
1.24 ± 1.36
0.000
1.37 ± 1.14
0.000
7.96 ± 1.35
0.592
0.000
Walking distance (meters)
Preinjection (T0)
311 ± 37
307 ± 46
324 ± 65
0.826
Immediately after the first injection (T1)
—
—
—
One week after the first injection (T2)
401 ± 47
0.812
386 ± 38
0.746
592 ± 69
0.041
0.049
1 month after the first injection (T3)
752 ± 56
0.000
698 ± 34
0.000
945 ± 35
0.000
0.038
3 months after the first injection (T4)
847 ± 79
0.000
812 ± 68
0.000
568 ± 53
0.034
0.041
6 months after the first injection (T5)
1384 + 92
0.000
1121 ± 71
0.000
497 ± 45
0.739
0.000
The comparison between random sterile water (n = 96) and steroids (n = 48) using Mann-Whitney U tests with significant difference at . The comparison within each group using repeated measure ANOVA with significant difference at .
